MovieChat Forums > Pocahontas (1995) Discussion > John Smith a bit pushy

John Smith a bit pushy


This is probably one of my favorite Disney movies, and I've seen it many times, but I noticed during a re-watch today that John Smith seems a bit too pushy with Pocahontas at first.

In the scene where they are under the big tree after they first meet, she runs away into her canoe and tries to paddle away after he insults her people. He then runs to the front of her canoe, stopping it, and says "I'm not letting you leave."
From a woman's perspective, she is talking to a strange man, feels uncomfortable about something he said, tries to leave the situation, and he forcibly prevents her from leaving, even telling he will basically force her to stay. Even though this could be seen as heroic or romantic, I found it a bit off-putting after watching it again this time. In addition, before she does leave this scene, he seems to be going in for a kiss, and she is clearly wanting to leave to see what the drums are signaling. Does anyone else think this is a bit pushy? I know he grows a lot as a character and I like him a lot after this scene, but I can't like this scene as much anymore.

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He probably thought Pocahontas was being way too sensitive. I certainly did. She had no problem insulting his people and he just had to stand there and listen to it.

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Mille, I totally agree. Kinda creepy.

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Yeah, I thought of that as an adult as well. I think it was supposed to show that he wanted to reconcile with her and not leave things on bad terms, but just the wording and the fact that he was actually physically stopping her canoe from leaving was a little weird. If this movie were made nowadays, John would be way more sensitive to women's issues and be all noble and let her leave, then just happen to run into her again.

I don't think the almost-kiss was weird, though, because they were holding hands and she brought her face quite close to his, then just got distracted by the drums. They probably would have consensually kiss if it weren't for that.

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If you try to watch older Disney movies nowadays, as an adult, from a feminist point of view, you'll probably find quite a few things to complain about. (by "you", I mean people in general, myself included). There isn't really a point in keeping an eye out for those details, you'll end up not enjoying the movie. I think it's better to just enjoy the stories for what they are. After all, the Disney princess ends up with the guy she chose and not for example, the one her father wanted her to marry (Aladdin, Pocahontas).

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I thought it was kind of cute when he didn't want her to go.

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I thought so too!

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True, true.

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I ma going to have to watch this again as I don't seem to remember him being pushy with her at first

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